“The Health and Community Protection Team at Warwick District Council has been looking at ways to improve air quality in our district.

Transport is the biggest contributor to pollution, so all opportunities to reduce the impact vehicles have on air quality are being prioritised. We have worked with Warwickshire County Council, Volvo and Stagecoach to submit a bid for government funding. This funding would be used to introduce electric buses.

Initially, a number of electric buses would serve the No.67 bus route, which travels throughout Leamington Spa, improving air quality across the whole town. This particular route travels up and down the Parade and Bath Street, which are part of an air quality management area that we are aiming to improve.

If we are successful in our bid, then we’ll be delivering an innovative scheme, with Leamington Spa the first place in the country to have a system where buses are charged on the streets, rather than returning to the depot. I’m very excited about this initiative, which could have a positive impact on air quality in our district for many years to come.”